According to a new TMZ report, Russell’s estranged wifeTaylor Armstrongwas actually present when his dead body was discovered.

Sources close to Taylor reveal she and Russell had been communicating regularly and were actually supposed to meet on Monday afternoon. Russell was however a no show and Taylor became worried and started calling his friends, though none of them had heard from him.

Taylor became increasingly alarmed when Russell did not respond to her texts or calls. So on Monday evening, Taylor and a friend went to the home Russell had been residing in. The owner of the home looked through Russell’s bedroom window during which his lifeless body was discovered hanging.

The home owner dialed 911 and Russell was declared dead at 8:16 PM. It is believed Russell had been dead for hours. Taylor reportedly stayed at the home for hours after the body was discovered.

Meanwhile, this tragedy occurs just weeks before the second season of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is set to premiere on Sep. 5. And as you all know, Taylor’s crumbling marriage to Russell is one of the key story lines on the new season.

This has reportedly put Bravo into panic mode as they are now trying to decide on what do to. The Hollywood Reporter states Bravo “is waiting at least 24 hours to make a decision about whether they’ll postpone the show.”

TMZ is also reporting that filming as yet to end on the new season even though a premiere date has been announced. This coincides with HR’s report that Bravo recently ordered more episodes for the series, increasing the originally planned 14 episodes to 18. TMZ adds that Bravo has instructed the cast not to talk to the press while also canceling a shoot that was scheduled for today.

Unfortunately this isn’t the first time a death has occurred in the Housewives series. Back in 2009, Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss’ ex-fiance A.J. Jewellpassed away while the show was still on the air. Bravo decided back then to air the show as is while acknowledging AJ’s death in the ending credits of one of the episodes.

Some are also blaming the Housewives series for Russell’s death though that seems highly unlikely as even his attorney stated Russell’s issues stemmed from his mounting financial problems and impending divorce.

In the meantime, Bravo released this official statement on the tragedy: “All of us at Bravo are deeply saddened by this tragic news. Our sympathy and thoughts are with the Armstrong family at this difficult time.”

And finally, Russell’s ex-wife is now blaming Taylor for his death. In a shocking interview with RadarOnline, Barbara Frederickson claims Taylor “drove” Russell to his death. Wow.

“I don’t care for her at all. I think she’s the reason for this,” Barbara revealed. “She’s not who she says she is and I told him to please be careful with this woman… I warned him! She’s bad news and she drove him into this.” Barbara goes on to add that Russell has always been a good father to her son.

Barbara seems to be singing a different tune now than the one she sang years earlier when she accused Russell of domestic violence in court documents.

TELL US – WHAT SHOULD BRAVO DO ABOUT THE SECOND SEASON? POSTPONE IT, EDIT IT, OR LEAVE IT AS IS? IS IT FAIR TO BLAME THE HOUSEWIVES SERIES FOR RUSSELL’S DEATH?

As it turns out, Taylor is not the first woman to accuse Russell of physical abuse. In fact two of his exes (an ex-girlfriend and an ex-wife) had to get restraining orders against him, and in 1997, he pled guilty to battery.

According to a new bombshell report by RadarOnline, Russell was married to ex-wife Barbara Armstrong in 1997 and separated shortly after their son Aiden was born. In court documents obtained, Barbara alleges that Russell beat her when she was six months pregnant: “Russell threw me to the ground and slapped me across the face….the police were called to Russell’s and my residence during our marriage because Russell hit me, blackened my eyes, kicked me in the back, threw crystal drinking glasses at me, and spit on me.”

In the sworn declaration given in late 1997, Barbara states Russell: “Pleaded guilty to battery and said that he understood that he had to go to an anger management program. That was the first anger management program that Russell was ordered to attend.”

The allegations get even worse as Barbara ultimately divorced Russell and remarried. Russell however continued to see his son Aiden every other weekend. However on August 6, 2004, Barbara states in her declaration that she received a phone call from Russell’s then-girlfriend, Claudia Haro, who told her she “saw Russell slap Aiden across the face, very hard. This slap was so hard that Ms. Haro heard it across the room. Ms. Haro has seen and heard Russell slap Aiden’s face very hard on other occasions.”

This led Barbara to get a restraining order against Russell and request that an off-duty police officer monitor visitation with their son, Aiden.

And in a different sworn declaration by Russell’s then girlfriend Claudia, she also stated that Russell hit her. After accusing Claudia of sleeping with an ex-boyfriend, she alleges Russell “hit me in the face so hard that my neck snapped back….I got out of Russell’s car and dialed 911. However, I was put on hold. I was standing next to Russell’s car with my cell phone in my hand when he walked around the car, pulled my cell phone out of my hand and he broke it by pulling the top part of my flip phone off. Russell then grabbed both of my wrists so hard that it hurt.”

When contacted by RadarOnline, Russell’s lawyer gave the following statement – “Russell Armstrong is not convicted of any offenses. He categorically denies the seven-year-old allegations from the family law proceeding.”

Wowzers. RadarOnline is also reporting Taylor’s abuse claims against Russell will be addressed on the upcoming season of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. “Russell didn’t want the specific incidents discussed on the show, and it wasn’t. However, Taylor strongly hints at the physical abuse, along with the emotional abuse. Russell doesn’t want to be perceived as a monster,” revealed a Bravo insider.

The insider adds that Taylor “never called the police on Russell after a fight, which she says would turn violent at times, because she thought it was her fault. Taylor was in denial, which is very typical when a woman is in that situation.”

Photo credit: FayesVision/WENN.com

TELL US – THOUGHTS ON THE LATEST REPORT ABOUT RUSSELL? FEEL BAD FOR TAYLORYET?